Loris' chances at a fourth-straight Class AA Lower State title appeared to have come to an end when the Lions were nipped 34-33 by Hanahan for the AA Duals Lower State championship Wednesday.
But not so fast, according to Lions coach Thomas Britt. Britt said after the match it was discovered that the Hawks may have used an ineligible wrestler in one weight class. He said he has contacted the S.C. High School League to file an appeal, and said he was confident the match result would be overturned.
The class in question was at 125 pounds, where Hanahan's Koffi Dwira beat Loris' Jamar Gore 12-5.
Britt said his team would continue to prepare for a possible trip to Ridge View on Saturday for the Class AA state final against either Palmetto or Woodruff.
Loris twice had double-digit leads, getting up 10-0 after a pin by Dajuan Griffin at 215 and four-point win by Kendrick Butler at 275.
Hanahan tied the score with a pin at 103 and 10-0 win at 112.
Kwamaine Livingston picked up a pin for Loris at 119 but Hanahan picked up two key, one the controversial victory at 125 and another at 130. Michael Wolfe pinned Nic Mari in the first period at 130, giving the Hawks a 19-16 lead.
The Lions, however, jumped to the biggest lead of the night - 30-19 - with a pin by LaQuandian Bromell at 135 and major wins by Montel White and Harry James at 140 and 145, respectively.
Hanahan picked up six easy points when Loris forfeited at 152. Hawks' freshman Dennis Flores then pinned Thomas Jones to give Hanahan a 31-30 advantage heading into the final matches.
At 171, the Hawks' Nic Thompson overcame a 9-6 deficit to record a 21-14 win, pushing the lead to 34-30.
Loris' Joel Stevens defeated Hanahan's Joseph Clemit 9-8 in the final match, but the Lions needed a major win or pinfall to escape with the win - unless they win the appeal.
"Working with these kids, seven days a week for three months, I knew we could do this," said Adkins. "We've had a really good season and now we've beaten the number one team in the state and have a chance to win a state championship."
103 - JJ Johnson (H) pin Terrell McCaskill; 112 - Jeff Brule (H) maj.dec. Malcolm Griffin; 119 - Kwamaine Livingston (L) pin Brian Joseph; 125 - Koffi Dwira (H) dec. Jamar Gore, 12-5; 130 - Michael Wolfe (H) pin Nic Mari; 135 - LaQuandrian Bromell (L) pin George Williams; 140 - Montel White (L) maj.dec. Caleb Harvey; 145 - Harry James (L) maj.dec.Frances Boykin; 152 - Cody Hancock (H) wbf.; 160 - Dennis Flores (H) pin Thomas Jones; 171 - Nic Thompson (H) dec. Steven Jenrette, 21-14; 189 - Joel Stevens (L) dec. Joseph Clemit, 9-8; 215 - Dajuan Griffin (L) pin C.J. Christie; 275 - Kendrick Butler (L) maj.dec. Trey Farley, 11-3.
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